Principles of art: unity
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can create unity in a printed textile design based on a theme.
Key learning points
- Artists achieve unity through repetition of elements such as colour, shape and texture, creating a sense of harmony.
- Unity can enhance the emotional impact and convey the artist's intended ideas or feelings.
- Artists use symmetry, pattern, harmony, and proportion to create a sense of wholeness.
Keywords
Unity - separate elements working together in a composition
Block printing - a method for printing with an inked block, such as a stamp.
Convey - to express or communicate an idea, feeling, or message through the artwork.
Relief print - a printmaking technique where the design to be inked is raised above the surface.
Common misconception
To create unity, all elements in a piece must look exactly the same or be repeated in a uniform manner.
Variety can still contribute to a cohesive composition, as does repeating elements in a non-uniform way.
Teacher tip
This lesson is focused on printed textiles but paper and print could be used. It could also incorporate more textile methods through dyes or batik.
Equipment
Paper, printing inks, card / polyblock, rollers, scissors, glue, fabric, watercolour paints
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does proportion in Western art refer to?
Q2.How can Western ideas of proportion be helpful in drawing?
Q3.What does drawing from direct observation mean?
Q4.Which are the elements of art?
Q5.Which of these statements correctly describe proportion?
Q6.What is a potential downside of using Western ideals of proportion?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How do artists create unity in their work?
Q2.What does unity in art help to achieve?
Q3.How can unity enhance an artwork's impact?
Q4.Match each keyword to its definition:
Balanced by mirroring of parts of an image
Repeated design elements
Relation of size among elements
Elements that work well together
Q5.What is block printing?
Q6.Match the keyword to its meaning:
Creating a sense of wholeness
Using motifs multiple times
Surface quality; the way something feels
The building blocks of art
To help you plan your 9 art and design lesson on: Principles of art: unity, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 art and design lesson on: Principles of art: unity, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 art and design lessons from the The principles of art unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.